Macular degeneration Flashcards
What is the macular? What happens when it degenerates?
- the macular is the part of the retina that has the highest acuity
- there is protein deposition that either leads to retinal atrophy (dry) or neovascularisation (wet) affects vision bad bad not good
What are the symptoms of dry macular degeneration?
- gradual loss (decades) of CENTRAL vision
- peripheral vision remains well intact
- painless
- can be uni or bilateral
What is the name of the simple vision test you can do for macular degeneration?
- asmler test
- grid of straight lines that appear distorted to the patient
What fundoscopic findings would you expect for dry macular degeneration?
- drusen deposits (small, large, soft)
- macular pigment atropy
- macular pigment detachment
What are the treatment options for dry macular degeneration?
- NONE curative
- avoid smoking
- improve diet
- antioxidant Tx e.g. vitamin A, C, E, Beta-carotene, zinc
How does wet macular degeneration differ from dry?
-ACUTE presentation opposed to gradual vision loss
What is the presentation of wet macular degeneration?
-acute onset of central vision changes
What would be seen on fundoscopy for a patient with wet macular degeneration?
- macular swelling
- haemorrhage from new vessel formation
- retinal detachment
What are the 2 treatment options of Wet macular degeneration?
- laser therapy
- intrevitreal ANTI-vascular endothelial growth factor (monthly)
Diabetic retinopathy can cause a macular degeneration like presentation with neovascularisation and macular oedema. What pattern of vision loss would be more suggestive of a diabetic driven pathology?
- blurred vision
- distorted colours and lines
- both lens affected but in differeing severity.
How does one treat diabetic retinopathy?
- photocoagulation
- VEGF inhibitors
- surgery where detachment is a risk….REFER
